Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-05-28
Ought the City to Erect Additions
School BuildingsP
To the Chronicle:

To the Chronicle:
At the beginning OF the present session,
complaints were made OF the crowded condi-
ton OF the schools and 1t was limited that the
City Council would be called upon to erect
additional buildings. Recently committee
OF the School BoFd was appointed for that
purpose.
While the city has some surplus funds on
hand. there are 10 many uses TO which they
can be applied that the expenditure OF them
on buildings is not TO be desired, II the cree
ton OF those buildings can be avoided. In
this case 1t can be avoided, and that, too,
with great advantage both 10 the city pupils
and the city.
II the admission OF the 18th district be dis
continued and the privileges OF the city
schools be confined TO city pupils. the pres
ent buildings will suffice until GAINESVILLE
has grown much larger than It is at present.
That this can be done with great financial
advantage 20 the city, there Is no doubt.
Taking the last report OF the School Board
as basis for facts and figures, we md that
OF an expenditure OF $500 only about 81, 300
came from the 18th district outside the city
limits, leaving $500 as the citys contribu.
ton. With city pupils only attending the
city schools, this amount will be enough and
more than enough TO pay all expenses.
The cost of tuition for the last four or five
years has been about nine dollars per pupil
Allow eleven dollars per pupil, OIL
two dollars more than the cost at any
time In the last four years, which should
certainly cover the increase In expense pei
bers, aud taking the per cent. OK attendanc,
from the city as being the same as from The
whole district, and the total amount for tut
ton will be less than $500. With increased
numbers Of course the cost would begin t,
approach the nine dollar mark, SO that TIN
sum named ought not to be exceeded NOR
than the additional income which would b.
derived from State and county sources OF
account of the larger number This amour
may then be taken as a safe one.
Besides the cost Of tuition, about $3.50 wa
used for other expenses. 1t can yer.
easily be shown that $500 Of this could b
saved under the system suggested, but as W
wish to allow large margin, suppose thes
expenses to be the same, the total cost O
conducting the city schools will then b
about $3.50 or $3.50 less than the amour
raised by taxation. so
Bnt in addition to the amount from take
the City Council has this session voted 81 90
additional with prospect of having TO con
tinue 1t. Including this there would be
saving of at least $3.50.
Ifthis were done no such items as "deman,
loans, ""overdrafts," "interest on loans" &c
would ever appear In the Treasurers report
II there was ever q good reason for tn
existence of the present system, It hs
ceased to exist now. The buildings are NOR
than ample, the city funds are more thai
sufficient for city requirements, but they ar
not enough for city and district combined
The city children have a right to deman
that the funds raised by the taxation of thei
parents shall be applied TO securing then
the accommodations and convenience
which those funds properly applied vii
obtain. That they have not had them 70
some time is due to the fact Of our admittin
the whole 18th district. This district has n
more claim to be the subject of the city
charity than the 7th, the 18th or any othe
district within reach Of the city.
A large part of its citizens live outside tn
Clb3 nAhits A0f bhc SApheSS uIk'ooc VI aVOlulh
city taxation, ard while we are paying n,
only the taxes those citizens pay, but also a
additional city school tax, they are enjoyin
the advantages procured by this extra lev.
} The city is paying enough for the educatio
of the country districts without THROWN
, open Its schools and erecting addition;
buildings for the accommodation of on
siders OF State and county school tax
about 5000 levied in the city 1t only &c
about sl,9O0 of 1t. This, ills true, is regulate
by State law,hut If 1t is SO done, why shou
we in addition give part of the balance? 6
The separation suggested will have to |
3 made some time, If the city grows any at a
. and no more favorable time will be four
5 than the present. We can not continue tal
: ing outside pupils, unless we expect al
t erect additional buildings and to foot Q
balances that may arise. The district WI
never pay more than about the preset
. proportion.
' / would call the attention OF the membe
of the City Council to this matter. Ifit is N
attended to by them, 1t seems from the on
? look now that it will go ON forever in 1
present expensive state. GARoNDUs.